Tooth-cleaning tool

ABSTRACT

A tooth-cleaning tool having finlike plates formed integrally with a base plate, extending from both sides of the base plate, and a grip pivoting the base plate so that the base plate can be pivotable in relation to the grip, is found very effective in removing food remains sticking to teeth, and, simultaneously, giving massage to the gum portion.

United States Patent Mizuno r151 3,640,291 1 Feb. 8, 1972 [54] TOOTH-CLEANING TOOL [72] Inventor: Miyoji Mizuno, 757, Tatsumicho,

I-Iichijyo-agaru, Shinmachi-doori Shimogyoku, Kyotoshi, Japan [22] Filed: Jan.30,1970

21] Appl. No.: 7,011

[52] US. CL. v 132/84 [51] Int. Cl. ...A45d 44/18 [58] Field ofSearch ..l32/'I9, 89, 84; 15/160, 167.2;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,212,010 1/1917 Brown ..132/84R 2,283,686 5/1942 McCune ..l5/l67.2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 29,592 3/1910 Great Britain ..15/l67.2

Primary Examiner-Russell R. Kinsey Assistant Examiner-Gregory E. McNeil] Attorney-Arnold Robinson [57] ABSTRACT A tooth-cleaning tool having finlike plates formed integrally with a base plate, extending from both sides of the base plate, and a grip pivoting the base plate so that the base plate can be pivotable in relation to the grip, is found very effective in remoVing food remains sticking to teeth, and, simultaneously, giving massage to the gum portion.

5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures TOOTH-CLEANING TOOL This invention relates to a tool for cleaning teeth, and more particularly, to a tooth-cleaning tool for removing food remains sticking to teeth, and, simultaneously, massaging the gum at the root of teeth.

In recent years, the problem of decayed teeth has'drawn great attention from the standpoint of beauty as well as health. Dental scientists report that even a small hole in a tooth should not be disregarded as not serious for mans health, but that it should be taken more seriously because decayed teeth can be a probable cause of disease, and have a far-reaching effect on the formation of childrens personalities.

However, there have been no significant improvements in the tool and method of cleaning teeth, and, instead, people are still using conventional brush-type tools.

The brushing of teeth should aim to remove food particles from between teeth, which food particles are likely to cultivate harmful bacteria, and be gradually changed into tartar deposits on the teeth. The removal of food particles prevents the fonnation of acid which is very harmful to the enamel and dentine of teeth. In most cases, however, food particles adhere as deposits between teeth so that it is very difficult to remove them by a common tooth-brush.

The conventional type of tooth-brush consists essentially of bristles, which are implanted on one side of a base plate, and a grip. But the bristles tend to become crooked after a very short time of use, so that the top portion of the bristles cannot penetrate adequately between the teeth. On the other hand, fresh bristles are stiff enough to give pain to the user and are detrimental to the enamel and dentine, which helps to keep people, particularly children, away from the everyday practice of cleaning teeth. A further disadvantage is that the bristles are mounted simply on one side of a base plate, so that the upper and lower teeth cannot be cleaned at the same time, and it is required frequently to direct the bristles to each side of the teeth, which, for the effecu've cleaning of teeth, requires a skill that is difficult for children. In general, it requires eight kinds of movement of the arm to clean all the teeth, by directing the brush in various directions. In order to obtain strong and healthy teeth, it is not sufiicient simply to clean teeth, but essential to strengthen the gums at the root of the teeth. A conventional tooth brush tool is not adapted for this purpose, and a special tool is required for rubbing or massaging the gum portion of the teeth.

In general, the following requirements inter alia, are essential for a tool of this kind:

1. It should not be detrimental to teeth, gum and dentine.

2. It should not require special handling skill in cleaning teeth effectively therewith.

3. It should be adapted to remove any particle from between the teeth.

4. It should be adapted to massage the gums.

5. It should be accessible for children and infants.

6. It should be quickly dried.

7. It should withstand long usage without deformation.

8. It should make the users comfortable and easy.

9. It should be easy to carry.

10. It should be usable at any place, even without water facilities for rinsing purposes.

The present invention has overcome the drawbacks and disadvantages pointed out above, by discarding the bristle brush and providing quite a new type of cleaning tool, and has for its object to provide. a new tool for cleaning teeth which is adapted to remove small pieces of food remains from between the teeth and, at the same time, to massage the gums and fleshy parts at the root of teeth, in which the requirements enumerated above are fully met.

According to the present invention, there is provided multiple finlike plates formed integrally with a base plate, and a grip pivoting the said base plate, the finlike plates being capable of yielding sideways against teeth, and shaped adaptedly for accepting teeth.

The invention will now be particularly described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tool illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in section, taken along the line 33 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view in section taken along the line 44 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of the application of the tool in practice.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view, particularly showing the application of the tool to the top portion of the tooth.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view, particularly showing the manner in which the front and back sides of a tooth are cleaned by the tool.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a further example of the tool.

Referring to the drawings, finlike plates 11 (hereinafter called fins) of resilient material are formed integrally with a base plate 10, and extend from both sides of the base plate 10. In the example illustrated, the root portion of each fin II is provided with a slit 21 so as to increase the resiliency of the fin. The resilient property of the fins is necessary to be able to rub sufficiently the tooth surfaces, but not to harm the enamel of teeth and the fleshy part or gum.

Each fin has gaps G to accept a tooth 20 as shown in FIG. 7, therein, so that the surface of a tooth 20 can be cleaned while the sharp-pointed corners of the fins are used to clean the top portions of the teeth 20, as shown in FIG. 6.

The base plate 10 is provided with a slot 13 in which the base plate 10 is pivotably supported on a supporting member 12 connected to a grip 16. Alternatively, the base plate 10 can be secured to the supporting member 12. As is shown in FIG. 3, the top end of the supporting member 12 is parted at 15 to embrace a pivot 14 arranged in the slot 13 to enable the base plate 10 to pivot in relation to the grip 16. The grip 16 can be provided with an aperture 17 which is adapted to squeeze out toothpaste or a flavoring substance contained in the body of the grip 16. But such substances are not essentially required for a cleaning tool according to the invention. In the preferred example illustrated, the grip 16 is provided with apertures 17 for letting out toothpaste or a flavoring substance. The apertures 17 are closed or opened by a valve rod 19 which is movably arranged in the grip l6, and which is connected to a rotary adjuster 18. The body of the grip 16 is shaped so as to be held comfortably in the hand. In a further example, illustrated in FIG. 8, the grip 16 is constructed so as to contain the fin section 11 which is folded at a pivot 22, where the grip body 16 is divided into two portions joined at a hinged portion. For childrens use, a painting to their fancy may be drawn on the hinged portion, such as childrens favorite cartoon images.

The operation and efiect of the prevent invention will be now described, with reference to the accompanying drawings:

The fin section is inserted into the mouth, and the mouth is almost closed so that the teeth 20 are completely embraced in the gaps G, as illustrated in FIG. 5, and the tool is caused by the movement of the arm to move to and fro so as to rub the tooth surfaces, from the front teeth to the innermost molar teeth, and on the left and right side. The front and back surface of each tooth is cleaned in the gaps as illustrated in FIG. 7, and particularly, the top portion of each tooth is cleaned by the sharp pointed comers of the fins 11 as shown in FIG. 6. The movement of the arm may be a simple reciprocal movement, which is quite different from the complicated way of handling a conventional toothbrush, so that the tool according to the invention becomes very suitable for children and infants. With a conventional toothbrush, the user must frequently change the grasp to direct the tool to each side of teeth in the mouth. and this requires special skill which is difficult for children and infants, for which reason the children are kept away from a daily practice of cleaning teeth.

The tool of this invention does not need toothpaste nor even water for rinsing, and the user can clean the teeth, and at his option, rub the gum portion at any time and place. The toothcleaning tool according to the invention has symmetrically formed fins on both sides of the base plate, so that the upper and lower teeth can be cleaned at the same time by a single movement of the arm, thereby reducing the time required for cleaning teeth to one-tenth of the time taken in the usual manner. With the tool it is easy to rub the gum portion, that is, to massage the gum and fleshy part at the root of the teeth, thereby obtaining strengthened tissue thereabout. The fins are not made of bristles, so that they are easily dried and this results in a tooth-cleaning tool and the elimination of sites for hannful bacteria.

What is claimed is:

1. A tooth-cleaning tool, comprising a plurality of finlike plates of resilient material, formed integrally with a base plate, and a grip pivotally secured to said base plate, said finlike plates being capable of yielding sideways against teeth, and shaped adaptedly for accepting upper and lower teeth.

2. A tooth-cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the grip is divided into two parts with a common hinged portion, so as to accommodate the base plate section which is held at a pivot.

3. A tooth-cleaning tool, as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a handle or grip portion and a tool portion comprising a series of parallel spaced interconnected fin-shaped members or resilient material and adapted to pass between adjacent upper and lower teeth simultaneously, bite-sized recesses in said fin members dividing said fins into fore and aft parallel spaced portions, whereby the fore portion is adapted to be received behind the teeth and the aft portion in front of the teeth, a centrally located plate portion joining said fore and aft portions, and pivoting means in said plate portion connecting said grip and tool portions.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said bite-sized recesses in said fin members define angled surfaces adapted for rubbing contact with the front and rear surfaces of the teeth in response to manual manipulation of said grip portion.

5. The tool of claim 3 wherein the rear portion of said plate portion is recessed to define a slot running transversely to said fin members, a mating extension of said grip portion extending into said slot and pivoting means in said slot for securing said extension to said plate portion, whereby said grip portion is pivotable horizontally over an arc with respect to said tool portion. 

1. A tooth-cleaning tool, comprising a plurality of finlike plates of resilient material, formed integrally with a base plate, and a grip pivotally secured to said base plate, said finlike plates being capable of yielding sideways against teeth, and shaped adaptedly for accepting upper and lower teeth.
 2. A tooth-cleaning tool according to claim 1, wherein the grip is divided into two parts with a common hinged portion, so as to accommodate the base plate section which is held at a pivot.
 3. A tooth-cleaning tool, as claimed in claim 1, which comprises a handle or grip portion and a tool portion comprising a series of parallel spaced interconnected fin-shaped members or resilient material and adapted to pass between adjacent upper and lower teeth simultaneously, bite-sized recesses in said fin members dividing said fins into fore and aft parallel spaced portions, whereby the fore portion is adapted to be received behind the teeth and the aft portion in front of the teeth, a centrally located plate portion joining said fore and aft portions, and pivoting means in said plate portion connecting said grip and tool portions.
 4. The tool of claim 3 wherein said bite-sized recesses in said fin members define angled surfaces adapted for rubbing contact with the front and rear surfaces of the teeth in response to manual manipulation of said grip portion.
 5. The tool of claim 3 wherein the rear portion of said plate portion is recessed to define a slot running transversely to said fin members, a mating extension of said grip portion extending into said slot and pivoting means in said slot for securing said extension to said plate portion, whereby said grip portion is pivotable horizontally over an 180* arc with respect to said tool portion. 